Richmond Canoe Club is a flat-water racing kayaking and canoeing club. We train 52 weeks of the year, in all weathers, and there are races of some description at least once every month through the year.

All paddlers are expected and encouraged to race regularly. Marathon races take place in 9 divisions, ranging from beginner-level to international standard, so every paddler can find an appropriate level of competition. Taking part in races is not only great fun, but essential for paddlers if they are to improve boat skills.

Regular paddling at Richmond takes the form of participation in training groups (all year round, for adult novices and improvers primarily on Saturday afternoons and Tuesday evenings, and on other days too as you improve) and the regular Club time trials (10k on Wednesday evenings April to September.) Kayak racing not only requires skill and technique, but also good all-round fitness. In order to advance through the racing divisions we encourage paddlers to expand their training to include running, core-strengthening gym exercises and kayak ergo.

Previous experience and high levels of fitness are not required when novices join Richmond Canoe Club.  Enthusiasm and commitment to paddling, and to the club, conquers all. To progress in racing you should plan to commit to at least two sessions a week of paddling, plus land-based training.

We all know that life can be demanding, being stretched in different directions, but if you are willing to commit regular time to Richmond Canoe Club, we will help you improve your fitness and strength, teach you the art of kayaking, incorporate you into the wonderful social side of RCC and take you to some of the most rewarding and exhilarating events of you life – sprint and marathon kayak races!

To start paddling and racing at Richmond Canoe Club

We run Adult Introduction to Racing Courses between April and October. Each course comprises four on-the-water sessions and two indoor technique sessions on the paddle machines. The sessions are usually on Saturday afternoons and Tuesday evenings but each course may vary slightly. The course provides an introduction to the sport of racing kayaking and to Richmond Canoe Club. It’s suitable for complete beginners and those who’ve had some paddling experience in other types of kayak (eg white water). The course costs £165 and more details can be found if you click on Introduction to Racing Kayaking Course.

Our first course of the year will be starting on Saturday 27th April – see full dates below. The course will open for booking on Thursday 11th April.

Booking for all of our courses is on a first-come-first-served basis. To book on one of our courses click here Course booking
The dates for our first course of the year are:
Saturday 27th April, 2-4.30pm, water session
Tuesday 30th April, 7.30-9.00pm, land-based technique session
Saturday 4th May, 2-4.30pm, water session
Sunday 5th May, 10.30-1.00pm, water session
Tuesday 7th May, 7.30-9.00pm, land-based technique session
Saturday 11th May, 12 noon -3.30pm, club lunch & water session

Dates for our other courses are given below. Each course opens for booking c.3 weeks in advance, you can see booking opening dates below.

2nd course opens for booking Monday 15th April
Course dates: Mon 6th May (10-12.30pm), Thurs 9th May (7-8.30pm), Sat 11th May (2-4.30pm), Sun 12th May (2-4.30pm), Tues 14th May (7-8.30pm), Sat 18th May (1-4.30pm)

3rd course opens for booking Monday 13th May
Course dates: Sat 8th Jun (2-4.30pm), Sun 9th June (2-4.30pm), Tues 11th June (7-8.30pm)m Sat 15th June (12-2.30pm), Tues 18th June (7-8.30pm), Sat 22nd June (1-3.30pm)

4th course opens for booking Monday 3rd June
Course dates: Sat 29th June (2-4.30pm), Sun 30th June (12-2.30pm), Tues 2nd July (7-8.30pm), Sat 6th July (2-4.30pm), Sun 7th July (10am-1.30pm), Tues 9th July (7-8.30pm)

5th course opens for booking 17th June
Course dates: Sat 13th July (2-4.30pm), Sun 14th July (2-4.30pm), Tues 16th July (7-8.30pm), Sat 20th July (12-2.30pm), Sun 21st July (2-4.30pm), Tues 23rd July (7-8.30pm)

6th course opens for booking 1st July
Course dates: Sat 27th July (2-4.30pm), Sun 28th July (2-4.30pm), Tues 30th July (7.30-9pm), Sat 3rd August (1-4.30pm), Sun 4th August (11-1.30pm), Tues 6th August (7.30-9pm)

7th course opens for booking 15th July
Course dates: Sun 4th August (10-12.30pm), Thurs 8th August (7-8.30pm), Sat 10th August (2-4.30pm), Sun 11th August (10-12.30pm), Tues 13th August (7-8.30pm), Sat 17th August (1-4.30pm)

We are hoping to add a couple of final courses to the calendar in September/October. Please check here for updates. If you e-mail learntokayak@richmondcanoe.club we will add you to our mailing list. We will e-mail you when new course dates in 2024 are published.

You can also come down to the canoe club and chat to our coaches and current novices to get a better idea of whether the sport, and Richmond Canoe Club, is right for you. The best time to do this is usually a Saturday afternoon at about 4.30pm. You’re welcome to come down to the club at other times of the week, but we can’t guarantee that there’ll be a coach to talk to.

The course is an introduction to racing kayaking. If you are more interested in recreational paddling, or in specific disciplines such as white water or sea kayaking, we suggest you look on the Canoe England website www.canoe-england.org.uk/findaclub.aspx, where you can find details of other clubs in the area that focus on different aspects of the sport.